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A pupil of the New Sapodilla School of Excellence Primary School has claimed the top spot in Region Five for this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

Eleven-year-old Safeerah Sheriff triumphed with an impressive score of 486.09 marks, securing her place at Queen’s College. She ranks 9th on the national list.

Safeerah attributes her success to rigorous preparation, which involved intensive extra lessons and relentless support from her family and teachers.

“I went from school to do my work and then I went to my lesson teacher, Ms. Jelissa, who did extra work with us and after that, in the evening, Ms. Constance worked on past papers with us. At home, my parents filled any gaps and did more work with me,” she explained.

Confidently, Safeerah noted that Mathematics stood out as her easiest subject.

“I found Mathematics to be the easiest subject because there was a puzzle where you had to solve things to get the answer,” she remarked.

Fantasia Alfred from Hopetown Primary School

Securing the second place spot for the region was 11-year-old Fantasia Alfred from Hopetown Primary; she scored 486.03 marks.

An aspiring neurosurgeon, Fantasia also gained admission to Queen’s College.

She stated, “I feel very honored and elated for being the top pupil of my school and also being placed second for Region Five.”

Fantasia emphasised the hard work she put into her preparations leading up to the exams.

“I prepared for my exams by studying regularly and enduring sleepless nights. I also prepared by making sure I understood certain topics and by working past NGSA papers. No, I was not surprised about being the top student because I knew my ability and I trusted in God,” she asserted.

Safeerah and Fantasia expressed profound gratitude toward their parents, teachers, and supporters, recognizing the crucial role each played in their remarkable achievements.

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An adult miner, who has only been identified as ‘Riley’ so far, was allegedly murdered on Saturday at the Baramani Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven.

Police Headquarters reported that the incident occurred sometime between 00:30 hrs and 02:00 hrs Saturday near a mining camp.

Riley’s body was found with multiple stab wounds. Two suspects, 21-year-old Rovel Santiago and 20-year-old Shawn Williams, were arrested on Saturday after admitting their involvement in the incident.

The suspects also led investigators to the crime scene, where significant evidence, including suspected murder weapons (knives) and the victim’s blood-stained clothing, were recovered.

A post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. Police also said the suspects remain in cutody as the investigation continues.

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A well-coordinated intelligence operation successfully thwarted a planned robbery at a Chinese supermarket in New Amsterdam, Berbice, on Thursday afternoon. Four suspects were arrested.

Reports are that at approximately 14:00 hours on Thursday, two motor vehicles were halted by a Senior Police Officer and other ranks on the Berbice River Bridge access road.

There were four individuals in the vehicles. During the stop, police discovered a .38 revolver with serial number J465543 concealed in a compartment beneath the steering wheel, accompanied by five matching rounds of ammunition.

The suspects, all males from Georgetown aged between 18 and 29, are currently in custody and actively assisting law enforcement with the ongoing investigation. The News Room understands that they were about to rob a Chinese supermarket.

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Ramroop Sadaram, a 71-year-old pedestrian of Success, East Coast Demerara, died late Friday night after he was struck down by a motor car along the Le Ressouvenir Public Road.

Police Headquarters said the accident occurred sometime around 23:45 hrs.

The accident involved motor car #PAB 9943, driven by a 48-year-old businessman of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara; Sadaram; and motorcycle #CN 8838, ridden by a 27-year-old construction worker of Bachelor’s Adventure, ECD.

Enquiries disclosed that the car was proceeding east along the northern driving lane, and it was alleged by the driver that he heard a loud sound of a motorcycle, looked into his mirror, and felt a sudden impact to the front and rear of his vehicle.

He stopped and saw a man lying on the road surface along with another man (motorcyclist), both with injuries on their bodies.

Emergency Medical Technicians were summoned to the scene where the pedestrian was pronounced dead. The injured motorcyclist was picked up in a conscious state and conveyed to Georgetown Public Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

The driver is in Police custody, assisting with the investigation. A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver, which read .017% and .019%.

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Gary Melville, a 46-year-old labourer of Lima Sands, Essequibo Coast, was allegedly murdered by a 23-year-old farmer from the same community.

The alleged murder occurred between 20:00 hrs Friday and 05:30 hrs, Saturday at Lima Sands.

Enquiries disclosed that Melville and the suspect were friends and both resided in the same area. According to a female shopkeeper at Lima Sands, at about 20:00 hrs on Friday, the suspect, along with the victim and others, went to the shop, where they imbibed alcohol. She further stated that the suspect was drinking a bottle of high wine while the victim was drinking 592 beers, and they were both seated at the same table.

She also stated that whilst in the shop, she overheard the suspect complaining that the victim burnt him with a cigarette, after which she saw the victim and the suspect in a scuffle.

The shopkeeper further stated that she saw the suspect bleeding from his head and the victim on the ground. Another female in the shop intervened and stopped the two men from fighting further. The victim then left and headed, on foot, in a northern direction.

About ten minutes later, the suspect left on his motorcycle, heading in the same direction as the victim.

At about 05:30 hrs this morning, a 48-year-old woman from the area was walking on the Lima Sands public road when she observed Melville lying on the eastern side of the road, motionless. She later raised an alarm, and the Police were summoned.

Investigators visited the scene, and the body of the deceased was observed and examined. Injuries were seen to the back of both hands, right side knee, both feet, and face.

Melville’s body was later taken to the Suddie Hospital, where it was seen and examined by a doctor on duty, who pronounced him dead on arrival. The body was further escorted to the Suddie Hospital’s Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The suspect was contacted, and injuries were seen to the left side of his hand, head, and knee. He was later arrested and taken into police custody and further escorted to the Oscar Joseph District Hospital, where he was seen and examined by a doctor on duty, who treated him and sent him away. He went back into custody.

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President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, joined by the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, on Friday commissioned the St. Ignatius Practical Instruction Department (PID) in Lethem, Region 9.

This momentous occasion signals the government’s ongoing commitment to improving access to quality technical and vocational education across Guyana, particularly in hinterland communities.

The St. Ignatius PID was established through the Guyana Skills Development and Employability Project (GSDEP), which is funded by a US $11.7 million loan from the Caribbean Development Bank and supported by the Government of Guyana.

The project is a key part of a national strategy to improve Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) by enhancing infrastructure, providing modern equipment, and strengthening the capacity of instructors to deliver high-quality, industry-driven programmes.

The Practical Instruction Department commissioned in St. Ignatius on Friday (Photo: Ministry of Education/ June 28, 2025)

This new state-of-the-art facility in Lethem will offer Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Level 1 and Level 2 certification in five priority sectors: tourism and hospitality, construction, information and communication technology, agriculture, and business.

Delivering the feature address at the commissioning ceremony, His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali emphasized the Government of Guyana’s commitment to strengthening the TVET sector in response to the growing demand for skilled labour and the historically limited avenues available to cultivate such skills.

“We recognize that there is a need for faster and more qualitative upskilling,” the President stated. “That is why we are investing in the construction of a technical college at Port Mourant, which will become the country’s main incubator of skills.”

Dr Ali further outlined that the Government is not only focused on producing skilled professionals for the national workforce, but also on equipping individuals with the capabilities to thrive internationally. “Once you obtain basic certifications in areas such as welding, machine operations, hospitality and culinary arts, we will facilitate your transition to more advanced training in world-class hospitality institutions and oil and gas facilities, thereby enhancing the quality and global relevance of your services,” he noted.

The Practical Instruction Department commissioned in St. Ignatius on Friday (Photo: Ministry of Education/ June 28, 2025)

The President also addressed the cultural shift that is underway regarding the perception of technical and vocational training. He asserted that Guyana is moving away from the outdated notion that technical education is inferior to academic education.

“Many people prefer the more practical approach to life. Practical Instruction Centres and technical education do not represent diminished education,” President Ali affirmed.

“We came up in a system where the value of technical training was underestimated. However, technical education offers a practical orientation to meet the current and future needs of the country, the global economy, and the workforce.”

In her remarks, the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, echoed the administration’s commitment to meeting the real and expressed needs of citizens.

“We asked you what it is that you want; what would give your children better opportunities,” she said. “We have built eight new primary schools, eight secondary schools, and 22 nursery schools.”

The Minister underscored that the expansion of infrastructure must be accompanied by increased teacher training.

“Because of the schools we are building, we need to ensure we have qualified educators. Region 9 now has 263 trained teachers, with another 425 currently in training.”

Minister Manickchand further highlighted the tangible impact of this approach, noting that the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results in the region have seen significant improvement from a 26% pass rate to over 50%, marking a strong trajectory in educational outcomes.

Students now have the opportunity to receive practical, hands-on training in areas such as commercial food preparation, furniture making, electrical installation, crop production, general office administration, and data operations. These programmes are designed to prepare learners for employment, further education, or entrepreneurship, equipping them with regionally recognized certification that is relevant and in demand.

The facility is outfitted with a commercial kitchen, a furniture-making workshop, an ICT laboratory, and a fully equipped electrical installation room. The total cost of construction amounted to $269,437,293.54.

An additional $87,038,505.74 was used to procure nearly 400 pieces of specialized training equipment, ranging from basic hand tools to advanced technology like blast freezers, band saws, desktop computers, and smartboards. This brings the total investment in the St. Ignatius PID to $356,475,799.28.

The centre is expected to serve more than 1,000 students, many of whom will now be able to pursue skills training without having to leave their community.

The commissioning of the St. Ignatius Practical Instruction Department represents another major step forward in the government’s mission to ensure that all Guyanese, regardless of where they live, have access to quality education and training that meets global standards and prepares them for the future (Press release from the Ministry of Education) 

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Senior Counsel Murseline Bacchus, who died earlier in June, will be laid to rest on Sunday in the ancient county, Berbice.

The funeral will commence with viewing and tributes at 10:30 hrs on the grounds of the Berbice High Court, located at Lot 1, Esplanade Road, New Amsterdam.

Thereafter, further viewing and tributes as well as the Service and Janazah will take place at his residence at Lot 90, Sheet Anchor Village.

Mr. Bacchus was the pre-eminent lawyer for many years in Berbice and was one of Guyana’s leading criminal lawyers.

“He was among the earliest Caribbean-trained law graduates of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), and was a classmate and lifelong friend of the former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Chief Justice, Ian Chang SC.

“Between them, they proved that a Caribbean legal education was, at least, the equivalent of English training, and they set the bar for the generation of Caribbean-trained lawyers who followed them,” a statement from the Guyana Bar Association stated.

It noted that Mr. Bacchus was appointed Senior Counsel by President David Granger in January 2020 and was in his fiftieth year of practice as an Attorney-at-Law in Guyana this year.

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Bilateral trade between Guyana and the United States has surpassed US$4.7 billion over the past year — a new record reflecting the two countries’ growing economic ties.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, made this revelation while addressing the 249th US Independence Day celebration on Friday night at her official residence.

“Over the past year, we’ve reached another milestone. Bilateral trade in physical goods alone surpassed US$4.7 billion, a new record.

“The number of U.S. companies working with Guyanese partners continues to grow, along with sustained investment across many sectors. Since last year’s event, we’ve celebrated many new ventures – from company launches and grand openings to groundbreaking partnerships,” Ambassador Theriot said.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali (third right), Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips (second right), Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd (right) alongside US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot (centre) and other embassy officials (Photo: News Room/ June 27, 2025)

Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali hailed the growing trade and deepening partnership. He underscored Guyana’s commitment to advancing trade diversification and improving market accessibility in key sectors such as agriculture, technology, and infrastructure.

“As our country actively engages in strengthening our framework for bilateral trade, we continue to be optimistic about the diversification of our trade relations,” he said, pointing to efforts to boost domestic food production, enhance food and nutrition security, and reduce import dependence,” President Ali said.

Dr Ali also highlighted that Guyana’s national agenda is focused on lifting communities, strengthening economic growth, and creating opportunities through collaboration with partners like the United States.

The partnership between Guyana and the US spans more than five decades. The two countries have worked together to build capacity across all sectors, including combating transnational crime, modernizing agriculture, and adopting new technologies.

Ambassador Theriot described the partnership as “far beyond mere words,” referencing significant growth in military, security, and law enforcement collaboration.

Now more than ever, Ambassador Theriot said, Guyana’s military and security cooperation is at the “strongest it has ever been.”

The US Ambassador praised recent law enforcement achievements, including coordinated operations between the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Guyana’s Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit that netted thousands of kilogrammes of illegal drugs last year.

“Joint operations like these strengthen our collective security and make Guyana a regional leader and a stabilizing force in South America and the Caribbean,” she said.

In a stark warning about transnational threats, President Ali pledged to crack down on gold smuggling, which he said could empower undemocratic forces.

“We are putting enormous resources into ensuring that the threat of illicit gold smuggling, which can help to empower or safeguard undemocratic forces, is uprooted with our partnership,” Dr Ali said.

President Ali concluded by reaffirming Guyana’s commitment to a peaceful, stable region and welcomed the US support in strengthening democracy for the upcoming September 1 General and Regional Elections.

“As Guyana prepares for its upcoming elections, we welcome the support of the US in ensuring a fair, transparent, and credible electoral process,” he said.

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